Customers lined up to be the first into the new Food Basics at the Porcupine Mall.
It's been more than two years since there was grocery store at the mall. It's the 142nd Food Basics in Ontario and created about 50 local jobs.
“It’s great, we really need a full-service grocery store and I’m hoping that it’s going to drive a whole bunch of businesses to start opening up around here and just create excitement in the community,” said Kelly Summers, store manager.
Coun. John Curley said the opening is exciting news for Porcupine, South Porcupine and the outlying areas.
“Everybody’s very excited to see this place open, the Porcupine Mall coming back to life. It was a little disappointing when everything did happen when the store closed down, but we’re up and running and alive again,” he said, adding the work that's gone into getting the location open is appreciated.
At the opening, the company also announced support for local organizations.
“As a local grocer who is engrained in the communities we serve, we are also looking for new ways to get involved," said John Manax, vice president of operations for Food Basics.
It donated $5,000 to the South Porcupine Food Bank and is the presenting sponsor of the return of the South Porcupine Winter Carnival in 2022, which runs from Feb. 18-22.
For the carnival, the Timmins and Porcupine Food Basics are donating the food for the barbecue at the Scout Hall and the Whitney Volunteer Firefighters' Breakfast.
